This needs to stop, like Yakupov is some frail flower or porcelain doll.
Yaks has been given PLENTY of top 6 time. Guess nobody wants to remember how he played on the top line against Toronto or Washington.

Your quote would be valid if you could explain to me how Hemsky was not handed a spot on the 1st line in training camp. Because since day one of practice and in every pre-season game he was placed on the 1st line, while Yakupov was played alongside Boyd Gordon and Jesse Joensuu. Yakupov didn't get into the top 6 until Hall's injury, and by then he'd already received a two game benching, hence the part about Yakupov's confidence being driven to the ground. It's funny how I'm supposedly the one with selective memory when all I'm doing is stating facts.